Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-24

public laws Of 1885. relating to Intoxicating
liquors. ~,
Bill an act to incorporate the Seal hafoof
Water Co. -,
Bill an act to incorporate the Brunswick
Village Corporation. -,
Bill an act to establish the Oldtown Mu-
ncpal Court.
Resolve providing for an agricultural sup.
erinteudent for the Passamaquoddy tribe OF
Indians.
Resolve in favor OF the city of Bs h
Resolve in favor of bridge in Ms'tawsm
keag.
Resolve in favor of the Maine Insane Hos
pital.
Resolve in aid Of dairying, beef raising:
sheep. horse and poultry growing interests OF
the State.
Resolve in favor of Eugene Michaud.
Resolve in favor of Bancroft plantation.
Resolve in favor Of Mrs. Leila Pattee.
Resolve for the distribution of certified
copies of plans on file in the State Land
office.
Resolve in favor of Robert Talbot.
Bill an act to incorporate the Dirigo Mu-
tual Accident Association.
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
Bill an act to incorporate the Houlton Sew
age Co.
Bill an act incorporating the Cumberland
Illuminating Co
Bill an act to incorporate the Lincoln Viii
lage CORPORATION.
Bill an act to renew and extend the charter
of the Cobbosseecontee Fish Cultivating Co.
Bill an act to incorporate the Caribou
Village Corporation.
Bill an act to amend an act creating the
Phillips Village Corporation.
Bill an act to incorporate the Bath Dry
Dock Co
Bill an act to prohibit fishing IN Bonney
Eagle pond in Buxton and Standish.
Bill an act to amend sec. !, chap. 425,
private and special laws of 1885.
Bill and act to incorporate the Sebago
Lake and Mechanic Falls Railroad Co.
FINALLY PASSED.
Resolve in favor of Hamljn plantation.
Resolve in favor of the town of French
vile, AroOstOok County,
Resolve in favor of bridges in Island Falls.
Aroostook county.
Bill an act to establish a State Board Of
Education, and provide for State uniformity
| of text books, to be furnished to scholars At
cost prices, came up by special assignment,
pending third reading.
MIR. Bishop of HermOn moved that the bill
take its third reading and passed to be en-
crossed.
Mr.. Bishop considered this one of the most
important questions that had yet come before
| this House. 1t was something that affected
every man. woman and child in the State,
and especially does the wage earners and
poorer classes. He thought our school books
cost too much. Why? Because under our
present laws the persuasive voice of the book
| agent is heard in all parts of the State, repre-
senting publishing houses which belong to
the great syndicate or combination which was
formed twelve wears ago for the purpose of
| controlling prices and robbing the people
Not only are outrageously extravagant prices
charged for school books. but our people
are migratory set, whenever they move
| from one town to another they ind themselves
| in most cases compelled 10 purchase an en-
| tire new outfit of school books for their chill
dren. He said the substance of the bill I'M
der consideration could be stated in . few
| words. Its aim and object, as set forth 10 its
| title, was to provide uniform system of text
| books to be furnished the scholars of the
| State at cost prices, the State paying the ex-
pense of the board of education. whose duty
| it will be to select the books, and towns pay
| ing freight and all expenses of sale, thus plac
| ing the books in the hands of the scholars At
| lowest possible publishers prices, which will
| be so to 60 per cent discount from present
| retail prices. 1t is estimated that one hun
dred thousand dollars per annum would be
| saved to our people by the adoption of uni
formity-qute an obj ct, it seemed to him. But
this Is not all Better books, an increased
| attendance and higher standard of edaca-
| ton would follow as the natural results Of
uniformity of text books and cost prices. The
question will naturally be asked, whether a
uniform system of text books Is IL successful
use elsewhe In answer to the question he
wished to say that New Brunswick has a
| school system which is acknowledged TO be
equal if not superior to any in the world. He
read a short extract from the Manual of
School Law of that Province:
ut is generally conceded, also, that the
very great educational advantages secured by
! uniformity of good textbooks Especially in
rendering practicable an efficient classifca-
ton of the pupils. by which their progress
is greatly promoted), far outweigh any possi-
| BILE disadvantages that NAV occasionally &C
| crue to individual parents, pupils or teach
ers; and where schools are liable, as in New
| Brunswick, to frequent change of teachers,
such uniformity is of enhanced importance.
| As the purchase of text books must ALWAYS be
considerable and to many parents serious
item Of expense, it is important that the text
| books used should be as few in number as is
consistent with the end to be attained; and
whilst every care is to be taken that they al
ways be the best of their kind, they should
be changed as seldom as all the interests in
volved may seem to require"
| Mr.. Marston of Hallowel said that he was
opposed to the measure under discussion as
an expensive and inefficient means of accom-.
plishing an end to be attained by simpler and
better legislation. The bill called for COM
pulsory State uniformity of text books, and
it was claimed on the specious argument of
economy. We were confronted at once with
the fact that not one State in the whole coun-
try possessed State uniformity of text books. H
said it was impossible of introduction in
Maine. We have S75 graded and 1908 un :
graded schools, and it would be impractical
BILE to have uniform hooks for all these
schools, graded or ungraded, with children of
all ages in them. This bill would take from
the town school committees the right they
| now had to select their own books